Vice-chancellors ‘set own pay’

ALMOST two thirds of vice-chancellors sit on the committee that sets their pay, a series of Freedom of Information requests has revealed.

The University and College Union (UCU) said that the disclosure undermined the arguments of vice-chancellors who seek to defend their salaries by blaming it on a decision made by their institution’s remuneration committee. Of the 140 institutions that responded when asked if their vicechancellor was on the remuneration committee, 89 said they were and a further 10 said they could attend.

Sally Hunt, the general secretary of UCU, said: “For too long, vice-chancellors have hidden behind the shadowy remuneration committee.

“However, in the majority of cases, the vice-chancellor sits on that committee and the university refuses to issue minutes of the meeting.

“Students and their families are spending more than ever to fund their studies and universities should be fully transparent about how and why they are spending that money.”